Home Affairs Ministry: e-KTP Should Be Read Using a Card Reader, Not Photocopied

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) has revealed that the electronic Identity Card (e-KTP) is equipped with a chip that allows it to be read digitally, making photocopying unnecessary.

“The utilisation of the e-KTP, which is already equipped with a chip that should be readable electronically via a card reader or other devices, but currently many are still being photocopied,” said Director General of Population and Civil Registration (Dirjen Dukcapil), Teguh Setyabudi, to Kompas.com on Thursday (7/5/2026).

Teguh explained the reasons why photocopies of e-KTPs are still commonly required in 2026.

“Why are there still many photocopies now? Because some user institutions in the administrative process are still using manual systems and physical archives,” said Teguh.

He added that several regulations in various agencies still require the use of KTP photocopies.

“Such efforts are certainly our shared homework, our joint work, all related stakeholders, various ministries and institutions, and certainly the public also has a very important role,” he stressed.

Teguh stated that the government has formed the Committee for Accelerating Digital Transformation and the commission is currently discussing the issue.

Meanwhile, for small institutions or uses with low verification levels, he assessed that it is sufficient to see the name and photo on the identity without needing to request a KTP photocopy.

“There is no need to then ask for a photocopy, because once again it is not in accordance with Law No. 27 of 2022 on PDP,” he emphasised.

Teguh also suggested that the public use other identity cards that do not contain data as complete as the e-KTP if only needed for simple verification, for example, when checking in at a hotel or registering for certain services.

He reminded that storing KTP photocopies risks causing personal data misuse if not accompanied by adequate security systems.